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In the September 2023 edition of our e-newsletter, you will find:

• A story about putting the Race and Health Equity Resource Guide into practice
• Upcoming events
• Policy updates
• Western MA Residents: Your feedback is needed!
• COVID-19 news & resources

Racial Justice & Health Equity

Doug Salvador, MD, MPH, is Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer at Baystate Health, and Chief Medical Officer at Baystate Medical Center. He also serves on PHIWM's Board of Directors. Learn how Doug has used the Race and Health Equity Resource Guide.

Upcoming Events

Baystate Medical Center and HNE Community Benefit Forum

When: Tuesday, September 26, 2023, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm 

Where: 100 Hickory Street, Springfield, MA 01109

Kathleen Szegda and Tiffany Rufino will be presenting at this forum.

Equity in the 413: Western Massachusetts Racial Equity Summit

When: Tuesday, October 24, 2023, from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm

Where: Sheraton Springfield

Join the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and other partner organizations at the inaugural Equity in the 413: Western Massachusetts Racial Equity Summit, a powerful convening of leaders, advocates, and changemakers! Together, let’s build relationships, align our efforts, and advance racial equity in workplaces and organizations across Western Massachusetts.

A Roadmap for Youth Behavioral Health in Western Massachusetts

When: Wednesday, November 1, 2023, from 8:30 am to 11:45 am

Where: UMass-Amherst

With a focus on youth, this forum will provide a roadmap to help facilitate prevention, support social-emotional learning, foster connection, and inform policy change for Western Massachusetts. A stakeholder panel discussion will follow a presentation of the latest research from the region and an action plan.  

This Massachusetts Health Policy Forum event is co-hosted by the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts and the University of Massachusetts Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences. The event was made possible by generous funding from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Baystate Health. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation funded the development of the “Roadmap”.

A continental breakfast will be served during registration between 8:30 am to 9:00 am Seating is limited, so please register as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please email Events Manager Ashley Osorio.

Policy Update

You’re Invited! Kick-Off Event for Clean Slate Initiative 

Join us virtually on September 25, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm to learn about statewide efforts to pass “second chance” or “clean slate” laws. The Clean Slate Initiative is a national nonprofit helping to pass state legislation that would modernize our Criminal Offense Record Information (CORI) system so that people do not face unnecessary red tape or barriers to employment, housing, or education. To participate, contact PHIWM Policy Director Andrea Freeman for the Zoom link. PHIWM is a proud member of the statewide coalition working to pass CORI-sealing legislation. 

Advocating for Health Equity and Green & Healthy Schools

This week PHIWM staff provided oral testimony in support of two policies that will improve public health in our region.

Executive Director Jessica Collins spoke to the Joint Committee on Health Care Finance about the need to pass An Act to Advance Health Equity (H.1250/S.799). Among other things, this legislation would create an Executive Office of Equity reporting to the governor and would also standardize health equity data collection and reporting. Springfield Representative Bud Williams is one of the lead sponsors of this bill. More information | Jessica’s testimony

Speaking on behalf of the Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition and PHIWM, Senior Director of Strategy & Development Sarita Hudson spoke to the Joint Committee on Education in support of the “Green & Healthy Schools bill” (H.469/S.242).” This legislation seeks to establish an interagency work group to advise school districts and others how to “provide students with a healthy environment that is conducive to learning, protects safety and public health, and efficiently uses energy and natural resources.” Both lead sponsors for this bill represent Western MA—Senator Jo Comerford and Representative Mindy Domb. More information | Sarita’s testimony

If you would like to provide written testimony for either of these bills before the end of this month, please contact PHIWM Policy Director Andrea Freeman.

Your Feedback is Needed!

Western MA Residents: We Need To Hear From You!

Participation in Western MA is not where we'd like to see it for both of these surveys. Please help ensure Western MA is represented! The results will influence how resources, funding, and programming are distributed across the state. Please help spread the word.

Community Health Equity Survey (CHES)

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) created a survey to understand the social and structural causes of health needs facing MA residents. The Community Health Equity Initiative was formerly known as the COVID-19 Community Impact Survey (CCIS). MDPH will use the results to improve programs, make decisions about funding and resources, and support policies to improve health inequities. They will also share the results with partners across MA to inform local efforts. The survey will remain open until early fall 2023. All survey responses are anonymous and cannot be traced back to you.

• Who should take this survey? Anyone over age 14 who lives in MA
• How to take the survey: You can take the survey online with a computer, phone, or tablet. It will take around 15-30 minutes to complete. It is available in 11 languages, and later this summer, in ASL. Take the survey.

Learn more about CHES.

Iniciativa de Equidad en Salud Comunitaria (CHES)

El Departamento de Salud Pública de Massachusetts (MDPH) creó una encuesta para comprender las causas sociales y estructurales de las necesidades de salud que enfrentan los residentes de MA. Esta iniciativa se conocía anteriormente como la Encuesta de impacto comunitario COVID-19 (CCIS). MDPH utilizará los resultados para mejorar programas, tomar decisiones sobre financiamiento y recursos, y apoyar políticas para mejorar las desigualdades en salud. También compartirán los resultados con socios de MA para informar los esfuerzos locales. La encuesta permanecerá abierta hasta principios del otoño de 2023. Todas las respuestas de la encuesta son anónimas y no se pueden rastrear hasta usted.

• ¿Quién debe tomar esta encuesta? Cualquier persona mayor de 14 años que viva en MA
• Cómo completar la encuesta: Puede completar la encuesta en línea con una computadora, teléfono o tableta. Tardará entre 15 y 30 minutos en completarse. Está disponible en 11 idiomas y, a finales de este verano, en ASL. Realice la encuesta.

Obtenga más información sobre CHES.

Household Digital Equity Survey

As part of the statewide Internet for All initiative, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute created a survey to collect information about how MA households access and use the internet. The results will inform the development of the Massachusetts Digital Equity Plan. All survey responses are anonymous and cannot be traced back to you.

• Who should take this survey? Residents of Massachusetts; One respondent per household
• How to take the survey: You can take the survey online with a computer, phone, or tablet. It will take around 7 minutes to complete. It is available in 9 languages. Take the survey.

Learn more about the MA Internet for All Initiative.

Encuesta de Equidad Digital de los Hogares

Como parte de la iniciativa estatal de Internet para Todos, el Instituto de Banda Ancha de Massachusetts creó una encuesta para recopilar información sobre cómo los hogares de MA acceden y usan Internet. Los resultados informarán el desarrollo del Plan de Equidad Digital de Massachusetts. Todas las respuestas de la encuesta son anónimas y no se pueden rastrear hasta usted.

• ¿Quién debe tomar esta encuesta? Residentes de Massachusetts; Un encuestado por hogar
• Cómo completar la encuesta: Puede completar la encuesta en línea con una computadora, teléfono o tableta. Tardará unos 7 minutos en completarse. Está disponible en 9 idiomas. Tome la encuesta.

Obtenga más información sobre La Iniciativa MA Internet for All.

COVID-19 News & Resources

Rising COVID Cases

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise. Adults 75 and older are the ones most at risk of severe disease. The good news is that the tools we already have still work well against the circulating variants: 

• Treatment: Paxlovid works well at reducing the severity. Learn more.
• Testing: At-home tests detect infection. Check with your health insurance or local health department to see what can be provided for free or low cost. Beginning September 25, every household can place an order to receive four more free COVID-19 rapid tests from the federal government.
• Vaccines: Last week the FDA and CDC approved new Pfizer and Moderna vaccine formulas and released updated vaccine recommendations. These new vaccines aim to provide better protection against the current variants. Everyone over 6 months is eligible for an updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall. COVID-19 vaccines continue to be safe and effective, outweighing the risks of getting COVID-19 for all ages. See more information below about the updated vaccines. Talk to your doctor if you have questions or concerns.

Casos de COVID en aumento

Los casos y las hospitalizaciones por COVID-19 van en aumento. Los adultos de 75 años o más son los que corren mayor riesgo de sufrir una enfermedad grave. La buena noticia es que las herramientas que ya tenemos todavía funcionan bien contra las variantes circulantes:

• Tratamiento: Paxlovid funciona bien para reducir la gravedad. Aprende más.
• Pruebas: Las pruebas caseras detectan la infección. Consulte con su seguro médico o el departamento de salud local para ver qué se puede proporcionar de forma gratuita o a bajo costo. A partir del 25 de septiembre, todos los hogares podrán hacer un pedido para recibir otras cuatro pruebas rápidas de COVID-19 gratuitas del gobierno federal.
• Vacunas: La semana pasada, la FDA y los CDC aprobaron nuevas fórmulas de vacunas de Pfizer y Moderna y publicaron recomendaciones de vacunas actualizadas. Estas nuevas vacunas tienen como objetivo brindar una mejor protección contra las variantes actuales. Todas las personas mayores de 6 meses son elegibles para recibir una vacuna Covid-19 actualizada este otoño. Las vacunas contra el COVID-19 siguen siendo seguras y eficaces, y superan los riesgos de contraer COVID en todas las edades. Vea más información a continuación sobre las vacunas actualizadas. Hable con su médico si tiene preguntas o inquietudes.

Protect Yourself from Respiratory Viruses

As we head into the fall and winter when respiratory viruses are typically in full swing, protect yourself and your loved ones by keeping up-to-date on your vaccinations for COVID-19, flu, and RSV (talk to your doctor about eligibility).

Protéjase de los virus respiratorios

A medida que nos acercamos al otoño y al invierno, cuando los virus respiratorios suelen estar en pleno apogeo, protéjase usted y a sus seres queridos manteniéndose al día con sus vacunas contra el COVID-19, la gripe y el VRS (hable con su médico sobre elegibilidad).

Updated COVID Vaccines

When will the updated COVID-19 vaccine be available? Updated COVID-19 vaccines, from both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are now available in most communities. 

Is it safe to receive the COVID-19 vaccine with other vaccinations? According to the CDC, it is safe and acceptable to receive multiple immunizations, such as the COVID-19 and flu vaccines, during the same vaccination appointment. Check with your healthcare provider if you have questions about getting multiple vaccinations at one time.

Is there a cost for the vaccine? 

• For people with health insurance, most plans will cover COVID-19 vaccines at no cost, although you may need to use an approved, in-network pharmacy or healthcare facility. Check with your insurance provider if you have questions.
• People who don’t have health insurance, or have health plans that do not cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccines, can get a free vaccine from their local health centers; state, local, tribal, or territorial health department; and pharmacies participating in the CDC’s Bridge Access Program. 
• Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children Program may also receive the vaccine from a provider enrolled in that program.

Vacunas de COVID actualizadas

¿Cuándo estará disponible la vacuna COVID-19 actualizada? Las vacunas COVID-19 actualizadas, tanto de Pfizer-BioNTech como de Moderna, ya están disponibles en la mayoría de las comunidades.

¿Es seguro recibir la vacuna COVID-19 con otras vacunas? Según los CDC, es seguro y aceptable recibir múltiples vacunas, como las vacunas contra el COVID-19 y la gripe, durante la misma cita de vacunación. Consulte con su proveedor de atención médica si tiene preguntas sobre cómo recibir varias vacunas al mismo tiempo.

¿La vacuna tiene algún costo?

• Para las personas con seguro médico, la mayoría de los planes cubrirán las vacunas contra el COVID-19 sin costo alguno, aunque es posible que deban utilizar una farmacia o centro de atención médica aprobado dentro de la red. Consulte con su proveedor de seguros si tiene preguntas.
• Las personas que no tienen seguro médico, o tienen planes de salud que no cubren el costo de las vacunas COVID-19, pueden obtener una vacuna gratuita en sus centros de salud locales; departamento de salud estatal, local, tribal o territorial; y farmacias que participan en el Programa Bridge Access de los CDC.
• Los niños elegibles para el Programa de Vacunas para Niños también pueden recibir la vacuna de un proveedor inscrito en ese programa.